Method for linking two information types

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for determining information in a handheld or pocket type electronic device, which method comprises the acts of recording a first determination of information which is made via a user interface, presenting selectable information types so that they are directly selectable, which presentation takes place as a result of the first determination of information being finished, recording a choice of an information type, presenting a user interface for determining information in response to the choice of information type, recording a second determination of information which is made via the user interface, and of automatically linking the second determination of information to the first determination of information as a direct result of the recording of the second determination of information.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining information ina handheld or pocket type electronic device.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Today's handheld or pocket type electronic devices, e.g.telephones, handheld computers, digital diaries, etc., are becoming moreand more sophisticated. In addition, they are designed to handle manydifferent tasks. For example, a mobile phone does not need to be amobile phone only but it can also contain functions which are usuallyfound in an electronic diary or a handheld computer. Furthermore, anelectronic diary or a handheld computer does not need to contain onlyfunctions which are usually found in these devices, but can alsofunction as telephones.

[0003] Although the devices more and more comprise the same or similarfunctions, the functions are often divided, i.e. if an e-mail is to besent, an e-mail is written by means of a program intended for thispurpose, if a booking in the diary is to be written, such a booking iswritten in a program for the diary, if a note is to be written, a noteis written in a program for notes, etc.

[0004] As a result, more programs or more dedicated program parts areneeded as users desire to be able to create new types of information.Thus, the user has to learn to handle a large number of differentprogram applications and the different interfaces of these applications.Moreover, in most systems the user has to create a system for sortinginformation in order to easily find different files; he or she also hasto manage this system. All these different programs and their differentfiles or objects result in devices for such applications requiring alarge memory. Besides, many steps are usually required for the user toswitch between applications for different information types.

[0005] Yet another problem of today's technology is that it is oftendifficult to connect different information types, e.g. attach specificinformation to an e-mail, to an appointment in a diary, to an address,to images, to sound, etc.

[0006] Another problem is that today's users of information collectingand/or information transmitting devices have to handle large amounts ofinformation, which is inconvenient when specific information is lookedfor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The objects of the present invention is thus to provide a methodin a handheld or pocket type electronic device by means of which methoda user quickly and easily can create complicated information types andwhich method results in a memory efficient system.

[0008] According to the invention, these objects are achieved by amethod as claimed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the method arestated in the dependent claims.

[0009] In particular, these objects are achieved by a method fordetermining information in a handheld or pocket type electronic device,which method comprises the acts of recording a first determination ofinformation which is made via a user interface, presenting selectableinformation types so that they are directly selectable, whichpresentation takes place as a consequence of a first determination ofinformation being finished, recording a choice of an information type,presenting a user interface for determining information in response tothe choice of information type, recording a second determination ofinformation which is made via a user interface, and automaticallylinking the second determination of information to the firstdetermination of information as a direct result of the recording of thesecond determination of information.

[0010] Determining information means both that the user indicates anobject of information that is available in the system and that the usercreates new information for a new or existing object of information.

[0011] A particular advantage of directly after a first determination ofinformation allowing a second determination of information and ofautomatically linking the second determination of information to thefirst determination of information when the second determination ofinformation has been recorded is that a user with just a fewmanipulations can easily create complicated determinations ofinformation consisting of different types of information and function.The invention also results in the advantage of a user easily being ableto find and link available information of a specific information type toselected information without the user needing to be disturbed byirrelevant information types.

[0012] A user who uses the invention to make a determination ofinformation does not need to determine in advance what he or she finallydesires to provide but can during the creation process follow his or hernatural train of thought. For instance, if a user gets an idea that isimportant to him or her and that he or she would like to note and sharewith someone else, the first thought would be to write down the idea. Byusing the invention, the user's first measure could be to choose tocreate a sound file in which the user quickly and easily records his orher message and, thus, makes a determination of information. Once theidea is recorded, he or she has achieved his or her primary object andstarts thinking about with whom he or she is going to share the idea. Byusing the invention, as a consequence of having recorded the firstdetermination of information, the user gets the opportunity to directlychoose a second determination of information for linking to the firstone. The user can thus record his or her message and once the recordingis finished, a number of information types is presented to him or herwhich can be linked to his or her note. Among these he or she finds, forexample, “address” which may contain data regarding companies or people.Since his or her intention was to share the idea with someone, he or sheselects “address” and gets the opportunity to select a person who isrecorded in the system; he or she could also here create a new “address”if the person is not recorded in the system. Thus, the user can select aperson and a receiving address connected to the person and is ready withthe second determination of information and has provided a voice messageto which a receiving address is linked. The user can now choose to sendthe message without needing to supply further data. The message statedin the example could just as well be an image, a text or some otherobject. If a user's intention is not to send information, also theaddress stated in the example can be another function. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the selectable information types arepresented again after the second determination of information, exactlyas after the first determination of information. The user may thencontinue to link further determinations of information, objects ofinformation, to the first and the second determination of informationand, thus, obtain an even more complex object of information. Thismethod can be repeated an unlimited number of times if the restrictionsas to storage are left out of account. According to a preferredembodiment, such a complicated object of information may also besearched for and be found by going through a presentation of anyinformation type of the linked objects of information.

[0013] In order to clarify the capacity of the invention to adapt to theuser's present thoughtway, it should be pointed out that thedeterminations of information may also be carried out in the reverseorder. This means that if the user first thinks of the receiver, he orshe can first select the receiver and then write his or her note.

[0014] Furthermore, by linking determinations of information, which cancontain considerable quantities of data, to one another instead ofstoring copies of determinations of information, the system becomes verymemory efficient since a link in most cases requires less memory than adetermination of information.

[0015] The method according to the invention also results in an even andconcise flow of user activities without any need for unnecessary jumpsor activities. This results in a user experiencing an evenly progressivedetermination of information.

[0016] Determinations of information which have been linked together asindicated above constitute a virtual object of information collecting,the properties and contents of which are determined by thedeterminations of information being linked together. On the basis of afew fundamental information types, more complicated and advancedinformation types in the form of objects of information collecting canthus be created. This results in the user needing to learn only a fewways of indicating information.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, as a consequence ofa finished determination of information also at least one indicator ispresented which can be used by a user to identify at least onedetermination of information as part of a virtual object of informationcollecting. Preferably, such an indicator is presented on a screen atthe same time as the selectable information types are presented. Theadvantage of this method is that the user can at least keep track ofwith what information he or she is working. In a preferred embodiment,indicators are shown regarding all the objects on the screen which arelinked to one another during the current linking process, which givesthe user a general view of what he or she has done. The latter displayis advantageously presented on a screen at the same time as theselectable information types are presented, which leads to the userbeing able to get a fast general view of the linked objects. Preferably,the display is made in such a manner that the objects included can bescrolled if all of them cannot be shown at the same time.

[0018] Said presentations of identities result in the user getting ageneral view of the determinations of information which are included inthe object of information collecting when he or she is to decide whetherto add more determinations of information or carry out some othermeasure.

[0019] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, as a resultof a finished determination of information, selectable functions arepresented which are connected to at least one of the determinations ofinformation which are linked at the moment. This gives the advantage ofthe user being able to activate the desired function in the generatedobject of information collecting as soon as he or she has carried out adetermination of information regarding an information type which isconnected to the desired function without first having to proceed via anactivity menu. In its turn, this leads to the user only needing to carryout a minimum of acts for activating the object and the user's handlingbeing extremely simple.

[0020] According to another preferred embodiment, each object ofinformation comprises an indication of time. As regards inputtedinformation, this indication of time can correspond to the time at whichthe object of information was created, and concerning data or meetings,it can correspond to the time for the meeting. The advantage of thisindication of time is that the device can present a list of all themeasures carried out, e.g. inputted information and future data ormeetings sorted by chronological order. In its turn, this gives the useran excellent general view of the information that he or she handles.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, an object of informationregarding newly inputted information is saved together with anautomatically generated identity in response to inputting of the newinformation being finished. By using automatically generated identitiesfor new objects, the user never needs to think of naming an object ofinformation for identification, which in many cases is more difficultthan creating the information. Consequently, there is no reason for theuser to think of how the objects of information are stored or whatstorage structure is used.

[0022] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the act ofautomatically linking a second determination of information comprisesthe act of saving a link to the second determination of information inan object of information collecting, in which object a link to the firstdetermination of information is already stored. By this method, the usercan easily distinguish different virtual objects of informationcollecting comprising one or more common objects of information.

[0023] Handheld or pocket type electronic devices, e.g. electronicdiaries (PDAs, personal digital assistants), handheld computers, mobilephones, etc., are easy to carry along, which leads to the user desiringto be able to make determinations of information when the user ispressed for time, e.g. in the break of a meeting, seminar or the like.The advantage of the invention in such situations is that it allows theuser to quickly provide the desired determinations of information at thesame time as he or she is permitted to introduce/select information inan order that for the moment is obvious to him or her. By means of a fewsimple operations, the method also makes it possible for the user tocarry out determinations of information and, where applicable, activatethem. A user can also tie a heading and a text to an object ofinformation, which preferably does not itself contain text, by linking atext object comprising the desired heading to the current object ofinformation. By means of this measure, an object of information whichper se does not comprise any heading or text can be presented with aheading also in presentation states which present a list of objects ofinformation not comprising a heading or a text. The advantage of this isthat the user is allowed to give objects, preferably such that per se donot contain information which is easily identifiable to the user,information which is easily identifiable to the user.

[0024] One solution to the problem of a user being exposed to largeamounts of information is to introduce “automatic deletion”. The purposeof “automatic deletion” is to provide a system where the user neverhimself or herself needs to delete/remove information which he or shehas created or received, but this takes place automatically. The user isthus never stopped from creating or receiving information due to thefact that there is too much information or that the memory is gettingfull.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will be described in more detail in the followingwith reference to the accompanying drawings which by way of example showa currently preferred embodiment.

[0026]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a handheld or pocket typeelectronic device as well as objects of information and their structureaccording to a preferred embodiment.

[0027]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a preferred process for displayingtime-bound objects and determination of information regarding timeobjects.

[0028]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a preferred process for display anddetermination of information as regards text objects.

[0029]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a preferred process for display anddetermination of information as regards address objects.

[0030]FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a preferred process for display anddetermination of information as regards image objects.

[0031]FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a preferred process for display anddetermination of information as regards sound objects.

[0032]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a preferred process for display anddetermination of information as regards objects of informationcollecting.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The preferred invention can be implemented in any type ofhandheld or pocket type electronic device which has at least a screen,an input means, a memory and a processor. For example, such anelectronic device can be a handheld computer, a PDA (Personal DigitalAssistant), a pocket telephone, a telephone for the landlinetelecommunication network system, a multimedia telephone, etc. By way ofexample, one embodiment of the invention will be described in thefollowing as a multimedia telephone. The purpose of this is not to limitthe invention to a multimedia telephone, below referred to as telephone,but to give a concrete example on which the description of the inventioncan be based.

[0034]FIG. 1 schematically shows preferred information types 10, 12, 14,16, 18, an object of information collecting 20 and a schematic image ofa telephone 1. According to a specific embodiment of the invention, atelephone is adapted to handle five information types 10, 12, 14, 16,18. Each information type and object of information collecting 20comprises an identifier of information type 30 which identifies thecurrent information type, an ID field 32 which is individual for eachgenerated object of information and a time information field 34 in whichthe time for providing the current object is stored, not taking theinformation type time into consideration where the time informationfield 35 can be set to the desired time. In addition, each informationtype and object of information collecting comprises a field 36 forpointers, which will be described in more detail in the following.

[0035] Furthermore, the information types can be divided into two maindirections, where three types are considered as basic information types10, 12, 14 and two types are considered as additional information types16, 18. The basic information types 10, 12, 14 are preferably time 10,text 12 and address 14. The basic information types 10, 12, 14 arecharacterised in that sorting by presentations of objects can be madebased on these. When it comes to the additional information types 16, 18which are image 16 and sound 18, these are essentially sorted by the“time info” field 34 but can also, when they are linked to otherobjects, be sorted by one of these objects.

[0036] Apart form the fields 30, 32, 35, 36 mentioned above, theinformation type time 10 comprises a “reminder info” field 40 whichcontains information about reminder signalling, e.g. how long beforehandsignalling has to take place, type of signal, etc. This informationtype, time 10, thus relates to storage of reminders or future tasks, andnot time in general since time also is registered in the otherinformation types.

[0037] Apart from the fields 30, 32, 34, 36, the information type text12 comprises a heading field 42 and a text field 44. The heading field42 contains a heading which has been written or selected when providingthe field and the text field 44 comprises notes, i.e. the amount oftext. This information type can also be used to provide reminderswithout future indications of time. The user can e.g. provide an objectof information of the type text which has the heading “task”. All textswith the heading “task” may then be presented in a list under thisheading, which means that a list of tasks has been created. Naturally,other headings can be used for other purposes.

[0038] Apart from the fields 30, 32, 34 and 36, the information typeaddress 14 comprises a name field 46 and a data field 48. The name field46 contains a text which identifies for whom the information isintended, e.g. the name of a person, a company or the like. The datafield can contain a large number of typical address and communicationdata, e.g. various phone numbers, e-mail addresses, SMS numbers, faxnumbers, mailing addresses, Internet addresses, WAP addresses, etc.Advantageously, address objects can be linked directly to an image/aphoto or a sound, which gives extra information about the currentaddressee. As is evident from the description, it is also possible tolink other objects.

[0039] Apart from fields 30, 32, 34 and 36, the information type image16 comprises an image field 50 which contains data for an image.Preferably, a text object is linked to such an object, but also otherobjects can be suitable for linking.

[0040] Apart from fields 30, 32, 34 and 36, the information type sound18 comprises a sound field which contains data regarding sound, voicemail, music or the like. Preferably, a text object is linked to such anobject, but also other objects can be suitable to link.

[0041] The object of information collecting 20 comprises nothing apartfrom fields 30, 32, 34 and 36. Its purpose is to function as acollection object for linked information; in other words, this objectcorresponds to an object for the more complicated information that canbe created by means of the invention.

[0042] When creating information according to one of the above-mentionedinformation types, an object of the current information type is created.In these objects, at least parts of the fields which are defined for thecurrent information type contain data. In the following, object means anobject which is of one of the above-mentioned information types.

[0043] When a telephone according to a preferred embodiment is in a homeposition, a time list is shown where all the objects which are stored inthe telephone are shown in chronological order. Since all informationcannot be shown at the same time, this list is provided with suitablescroll bars, shortcuts as regards days, etc. Implementing such scrollbars, shortcuts, etc., is easy to provide for those skilled in the art.Apart from objects which are the information type time, all storedobjects in the list are sorted by the time they were created. As alreadymentioned, objects of the information type time relate to remindersand/or future tasks and are therefore placed under an indicated time,preferably in future, the time being indicated in connection with thecreation. In order to provide such sorting, all objects also of the typetime can be sorted by the “time info” field 34, 35 found in each object.

[0044] In said home position, different options are also presented. Oneof these options is that a main menu can be opened, showing selectableicons/texts referring to at least the above-mentioned information types.This menu thus comprises entries for studying, editing or creatingobjects regarding time, text, address, image and sound. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the activity determination of informationcorresponds to the user selecting an object by marking it or the usercreating an object by entering information for the current object.

[0045]FIG. 2 shows a preferred process 200 for creating objects of theinformation type time. When selecting the entry time in the main menu,selectable alternatives and available objects stored in the memoryregardless of information type are presented, step 202. The availableobjects are presented sorted by “time info”, see FIG. 1. Preferably, oneor a few days are shown at the same time on the screen. The number ofshown objects can be varied depending on the size of the screen and/orthe number of objects which are available for each day. Besides, someform of scroll button, scroll bar or the like for changing the timeperiod for shown objects is presented. Each presented object is per seselectable. The selectable alternatives can, for example, be diary,menu, filter, return, etc. When selecting an object which is presentedon the screen, step 204, a user has at least the option of going to theselected object in order to edit it, step 206, or to delete it, step208. If the user selects editing, step 206, the telephone will presentthe object on the screen in an editing mode, step 210. This editing modecorresponds to the editing mode for the selected object, which editingmodes will be presented in the following under the respectiveinformation types. When selecting delete, step 208, the selected objectis deleted, step 212, and the process returns to the presentation instep 202.

[0046] If, in connection with the presentation according to step 202,diary is selected, a diary and the alternatives new, OK and return, step214, are presented. The diary is adapted in such a manner that the userat least can switch between different months or years and mark thedesired date. Such a diary is created in a manner known to those skilledin the art.

[0047] If the user selects OK, step 216, the process will return to step202 via step 218, in which step the date marked in the diary is set asthe date that is shown in the presentation in step 202.

[0048] When selecting return, step 220, the process returns to thepresentation in step 202 without the display there being affected by adate selected in the diary. If “new”, is selected, step 222, thetelephone presents an interface for setting a time during the markedday, step 224; the interface can also present options of selecting alarmsignal and how long time before the booking a signal is to be given;also other options known to those skilled in the art can be implemented.The selected day and time can now function as a booking or a reminder.Also other functions which are typical for bookings and reminders can beimplemented here. Apart from the interface, in step 224, the optionsreturn 228 and OK 230 are presented. When selecting back, the processreturns to the presentation in step 214. If the user selects OK 230, aunique identity is generated automatically, and a time object havingsaid identity is created and saved, step 232, in which the selected dateand time are placed in the “time info” field. Subsequently, the processproceeds to the process for collecting information, in which process alink/reference to the saved time object is included.

[0049] Other options in step 202 could be menu, filter, return. Whenselecting menu, a return to the main menu can occur; when selectingfilter, an interface for selecting different filtering settingsregarding the shown objects could be presented, and when selectingreturn one returns to the preceding interface without having recordedany object. For example, the process returns to the informationcollecting process shown in FIG. 7, if this was the preceding process.

[0050]FIG. 3 shows a preferred process 300 for creating objects of theinformation type text. When selecting the entry text in the main menu,there are presented selectable alternatives and a list of headings forthe available stored objects of the information type text, step 302, thelist also comprising text objects which are linked to other objects,also objects of information collecting. The headings correspond to thosestored in the “heading” field of the text object, which are arranged inalphabetical order in said list. The options presented in step 302 are,apart from the headings 306, preferably at least the alternatives new304, menu, delete 308, open 310. The alternatives open and delete resultin an action regarding a selected object. If new is selected, step 304,an interface is presented for entering a new heading, step 312. Aninterface is then presented for entering text, step 314. When the texthas been inputted, the process proceeds to step 346, where a text objecthaving a unique identity, which identity is automatically generated, iscreated and where the time for the creation of the object is placed inthe “time info field, the heading is placed in the “heading” field andthe text in the “text” field. The process then proceeds to the processfor information collecting where it brings along a link which refers tothe saved text object.

[0051] If the user in step 302 instead marks a heading, step 306, andselects delete, step 308, then the heading and all text connected tothis heading will be deleted, step 320. If the user in step 302 marks aheading and selects open, the texts are presented which are connected toobjects which have the selected heading, step 322. In addition, thealternatives “new” 324, “return” 326, “use” 328 and “edit” 330,respectively, are presented. Under the alternative “other” 332, forexample, the function of deleting a selected text can be found, thewhole object in which the text is included being deleted. If the userselects return, step 326, the process returns to the presentation instep 302. However, if the user selects new, step 324, a new text objectis created, the current heading is copied to the “heading” field in thenew text object and an interface is presented for entering a text, step314. When the text has been inputted, the process proceeds to step 346,where a text object with a unique identity, which identity is generatedautomatically, is created and where the time for the creation of theobject is placed in the “time info, field, the heading is placed in the“heading” field and the text in the “text” field. The process thenproceeds to the process for information collecting, to which process alink which refers to the new object is carried along.

[0052] If the user in step 322 selects the heading of the text object,step 340, and edit, step 342, the process proceeds to step 344 where aninterface for editing the heading is presented. When the heading hasbeen edited, the process returns to step 322.

[0053] If the user in step 322 selects a text, step 334, and use, step328, the process proceeds to the process for information collecting andbrings along a link which refers to the selected text object. However,if the user selects a text, step 334, and edit, step 330, the processproceeds to step 336 where an interface is presented for editing thetext in the current object. Once the editing is finished, the processreturns to step 322 where the texts regarding the current heading arepresented.

[0054] Other options in step 302 could be “menu”, “search”, “return”.When selecting “menu”, a return to the main menu can occur; whenselecting “search”, an interface for searching regarding the currenttext objects could be presented, and when selecting “return”, onereturns to the preceding display mode without anything being recorded.For example, the process returns to the information collecting processshown in FIG. 7, if this was the preceding process.

[0055]FIG. 4 shows a preferred process 400 for creating objects of theinformation type address. When selecting the entry address in the mainmenu, selectable alternatives and a list showing the “name” field fromthe available stored objects of the information type address arepresented, step 402, which also comprises address objects which arelinked to other objects. Preferably, the list which shows the object isarranged in alphabetical order and scrolling between different names andnames which cannot be shown on the screen for space reasons, can beimplemented in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Preferably,the selectable alternatives are at least “new” 404, “open” 406, “delete”408 and other alternatives named “other” 410, which will be explained inthe following.

[0056] When selecting “new”, step 404, an interface is presented forentering a new name, step 412. When a new name has been entered, thename, all data corresponding to data intended for the data field, step414, and a number of options are presented. In the case where only aname has been entered, there are no data corresponding to data intendedfor the data field. Preferably, the options which are presented in step414 are at least “OK” 415, “return” 416, “add” 418, “edit” 420 and “use”422.

[0057] When selecting OK, the address object is created and saved, step423, if it is not an available object that is edited. In the addressobject, a unique identity which is automatically generated is entered inthe “ID” field and the time for the creation is entered in the “timeinfo” field. Moreover, the name is placed in the name field and the datawhich have been entered are placed in the data field.

[0058] When selecting “return”, step 416, the process returns to thepresentation in step 402.

[0059] When selecting “add”, step 418, an interface is presented wherethe user can enter various data, step 424, such as those mentioned inconnection with the description of the information type address in FIG.1, or create a direct link to another object of information. Preferably,the different data are presented as a selectable list and the user isable to enter specific information when he or she has chosen the item ofinformation that is to be entered. When an item of information isentered, the process returns to the presentation of names and data instep 414.

[0060] If the user has marked an item of information presented in step414 and selects edit, step 420, an interface is presented for editingthe marked item of information, step 426. When the item of informationis edited, the process returns to step 414.

[0061] If the user has marked an item of information presented in step414 and selects use, step 422, different things happen depending on whattype of information has been selected. If the selected item ofinformation is a phone number, step 428, the telephone connects a callto the selected phone number, step 430. In one embodiment of theinvention, the choice of a phone number can also lead to the processproceeding to the process for information collecting, FIG. 7, and fromthere the user choosing to make a call. Preferably, this possibility ofactivity is shown by an option “call”. If the selected item ofinformation is an address of a web page on the Internet, URL, or if itis an address of a wap page, step 432, the phone switches to a mode forshowing web and wap pages, respectively, and retrieves the current pageto be shown on the display of the telephone, step 434. In one embodimentof the invention, the choice of a web page or a wap page can also leadto the process proceeding to the process for information collecting inFIG. 7 and from there the user choosing to look at the site. Preferably,this possibility of activity is shown by an option “web” or “wap”. Ifthe selected item of information is an e-mail address, an SMS number ora fax number, step 436, the process proceeds to the process forinformation collecting and brings along a link which indicates thecurrent object and the selected item of information.

[0062] The process in step 402 will now be described. If the user marksa name, step 438, and selects delete, step 408, the object containingthe marked name field is deleted, step 440. However, if the user marks aname, step 438, and selects open, the process proceeds to step 414 andpresents name and data belonging to the object which contains the markedname.

[0063] Other options 410 in step 402 could be “menu”, “search”,“return”. When selecting “menu”, a return to the main menu can takeplace; when selecting “search”, an interface for searching regarding thecurrent name objects could be presented, and when selecting “return”,the process returns to the preceding process without anything beingrecorded. For example, the process returns to the information collectingprocess shown in FIG. 7, if this was the preceding process.

[0064]FIG. 5 shows a preferred process 500 for creating objects of theinformation type image. When selecting the entry image in the main menu,selectable alternatives and a list showing the “time info” field and the“ID” field in the available stored objects of the information type imageare presented, step 502. If the image is linked to a text object, theheading in the text object may be presented in this list. The list whichshows the objects is preferably arranged in chronological order andbrowsing between images/times which are shown and images/times which arenot shown on the screen for space reasons can be implemented in a mannerknown to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the selectablealternatives are at least “new” 504, “use” 506, “delete” 508 and otheralternatives named “other” 510, which will be explained in thefollowing. In order to allow the utilisation of “use” 506 and “delete”508, respectively, an image/a time must be marked in the list, step 512.

[0065] If the user selects new, step 504, an interface is presented forcapturing an image, step 514. In this interface, the user can alsoreturn to step 502 without having captured an image. Once the user hascaptured the image, the user can choose to delete the image and capturea new image or to save the image, in the latter case an image objectbeing created. In the created image object, a unique identity which isautomatically generated is entered in the ID field, the time when theimage was captured is entered in the “time info” field and the datawhich represents the image is entered in the image field. The object issaved, step 516, and the process returns to step 502.

[0066] If the user in connection with the presentation according to step502 marks an image/a time, step 512, and then selects “delete”, step508, the current image object is erased from the memory, step 518. Ifthe user marks an image/a time, step 512, and then selects “use”, step506, a determination of information has been carried out and the processproceeds to the process for information collecting and brings along alink which refers to the selected image, step 520.

[0067] Other options 510 in step 502 could be “menu”, “return”. Whenselecting “menu”, a return to the main menu can occur and when selecting“return”, the process returns to the preceding process without anythingbeing recorded. For example, the process returns to the informationcollecting process shown in FIG. 7 if this was the preceding process.

[0068]FIG. 6 shows a preferred process 600 for creating objects of theinformation type sound. When selecting the entry sound in the main menu,selectable alternatives and a list showing the “time-info” field and the“ID” field in the available stored objects of this information type arepresented, step 502. If the image is linked to a text object, theheading of the text object may be presented in this list. The list whichshows the objects is preferably arranged in chronological order andbrowsing between different images/times and images/times which cannot beshown on the screen for space reasons, may be implemented in a mannerknown to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the selectablealternatives are at least “new” 604, “use” 606, “delete” 608 and otheralternatives named “other” 610, which will be explained in thefollowing. In order to allow utilisation of “use” 606 and “delete” 608,respectively, a sound/time must be marked in the list, step 612.

[0069] If the user selects new, step 604, an interface is presented forsound recording, step 614. In this interface, the user is given thepossibility to return to step 502 without having recorded any sound.Once the user has recorded the sound, the user may select either todelete the recorded sound or to create a sound object. If the userchooses to create a sound object, a unique identity which isautomatically generated is entered in the ID field, the time when thesound was recorded is entered in the “time info” field and the datawhich represents the sound is entered in the sound field. The object issaved, step 616, and the process returns to step 602.

[0070] If the user in connection with the presentation according to step602 marks a sound/time, step 612, and then selects “delete”, step 608,the current sound object is deleted from the memory, step 618. If theuser marks a sound/time, step 612, and then selects “use”, step 606, adetermination of information has been made and the process proceeds tothe process for information collecting and brings along a link whichrefers to the selected sound, step 520.

[0071] Other options 610 in the step 602 could be “menu”, “play”,“return”. When selecting “menu”, a return to the main menu may occur;when selecting “play”, the selected sound is played, and when selecting“return”, the process returns to the preceding process without anythingbeing recorded. For instance, the process returns to the informationcollecting process shown in FIG. 7, if this was the preceding process.

[0072]FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the process information collecting700. This process is reached either via one of the processes specific toa type of information, i.e. via a determination of information, or whenselecting a collecting object. If the process reaches this step for thefirst time after a first choice or a first entering of information inone of the above-mentioned processes, i.e. the current determination ofinformation has not earlier been handled by the information collectingprocess, then an object of information collecting is created and thelink which an earlier process has brought along, is entered in thisobject. In addition, a unique identity which is automatically generatedis entered in the ID field and the time for creating the object isentered in the “time-info” field, step 701. If the process does notreach this step for the first time, after a first choice or a firstentering of information, i.e the current determination of informationhas earlier been handled by the information collecting process, then thelink which the process has brought along from an earlier process isentered in the object of information collecting that is being processed,step 701. The next step is a presentation of at least a summary of theobjects which are involved in the process, i.e. the objects which arelinked to the object of information, a list or a menu containingselectable information types, e.g. “time”, “text”, “address”, “image”,“sound” and other selectable alternatives, step 702.

[0073] Preferably, the selectable alternatives are at least “send” 706,“OK” 708, “return” 710 and “edit” 712. The alternative “send” 706 isonly shown if the current collecting object contains a link that refersto an address to which it is possible to send a message, e.g. an e-mailaddress, an SMS number or a fax number.

[0074] In a specific embodiment further alternatives such as “call”,“web” and/or “wap” can be presented if the object of informationcollecting contains a link that refers to a phone number, a web pageand/or a wap page.

[0075] Preferably, said summary shows at least identifiers regardingsome of the objects that are linked to the object of informationcollecting. For example, identifiers can be of the object type, aheading, a name, or the like.

[0076] When selecting one of the listed information types, step 704, theprocess proceeds to the process which corresponds to the selectedinformation type and at the same time indicates that a return in thatprocess will result in a return to the information collecting process,step 714.

[0077] If the user in step 702 selects “OK” 708, the current informationcollecting process will be finished and the process returns to apresentation according to step 202 in FIG. 2. The object of informationcollecting will then be stored in the telephone and be accessible viathe time process or by the processes of the objects of which there arelinks to in the object of information collecting. If an object ofinformation collecting has been processed, this will be released, step716, and the next time the process enters the information collectingprocess will thus be determined as the first time, see above inconnection with step 714. If an object of information collecting has notbeen processed, the process will return to a presentation according tostep 202 in FIG. 2, and the object of information collecting which hasbeen created has thus not been linked to any further object ofinformation.

[0078] If the user selects “return”, step 710, the process will returnto the information process that has just been left, step 718.

[0079] If the user selects “edit”, step 712, a summary of the objectslinked in the object of information collecting is presented, step 720.In addition, the options “delete” 722 and “return” 724, respectively,are presented. If a linked object has been marked 726 and delete isselected, step 722, the link of the marked object is deleted from thecurrent object of information collecting, step 728. If “return” isselected, step 724, the process returns to step 702.

[0080] If the object of information collecting contains one or morelinks to e-mail addresses, SMS numbers or fax numbers and the userselects send, step 706, then an examination of the linked objects iscarried out and they are adapted to the type of sending that is to beperformed, step 730. An object of information collecting may link to allthe three sending types at the same time. In these cases, an adaptationis made of the linked objects regarding the respective sending types.When the linked objects have been adapted, they are sent to thereceiving addresses in a manner known to those skilled in the art, step732. The process is then finished and the telephone returns to aninitial state where a presentation according to step 202 in FIG. 2 isshown.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment, the link to an object of informationcollecting is also saved in the objects which are linked to the objectof information collecting. This makes it possible to use, in differentmodes of presentation, information associated with the object ofinformation collecting and not only objects of information of the typeto which the presentation relates. This means, for example, that aheading can be presented in the presentation of the image object, thatan image can be presented in the presentation of an address, etc.Another advantage is that it is possible to fetch the entire “morecomplicated information” in one step for studying, for editing or forusing.

[0082] In the different modes of presentation, the objects ofinformation may also be sorted by information that does not belong tothe present mode of presentation, if said information is available foran object of information of a type corresponding to the present mode ofpresentation via an object of information collecting and if the objectof information of a type corresponding to the present mode ofpresentation is associated with an object of information collectingincluding the information on which the desired sorting should be based.One advantage of this is that, for instance, a user who looks at a listof images can sort the list by information in another type of objectswhich are associated with at least one of the images, e.g. a text, aname, etc. In a preferred embodiment, each presentation menu comprises afilter function for selecting different ways of sorting. Sorting byother information types as mentioned above is also possible.

[0083] According to another aspect of the invention, “automaticdeletion” may be provided by the name, time, text, etc. of the variousobjects of information being sorted into different boxes. Each box maybe filled with a certain amount of information to a minimum level“box_level”. In connection with further “filling up”, its “box_level” isexceeded, which leads to the oldest object of information getting intothe “buffer box”. This box has a dynamic size which is reduced as theother boxes are “filled up”. The automatic deletion will only deleteobjects of information which have been placed in this box. Consequently,the sum of the minimum levels of all the boxes, “sum_min_level”, becomessmaller than the total storage capacity, “mem_max”. The level for whenthe “automatic cleaning” is activated, “cleaning_level”, is larger than“sum_min_level” and smaller than “mem_max”.

[0084] When cleaning, first of all the oldest objects of informationwhich are located in the “buffer box” and which are not connected to anyother object of information are deleted, and they are “secured” by beingearlier copied to a personal computer in a synchronising process.

1. A method for determining information in a handheld or pocket typeelectronic device, which method comprises: recording a firstdetermination of information which is made via a user interface,presenting selectable information types so that they are directlyselectable, which presentation takes place as a result of the firstdetermination of information being finished, recording a choice of aninformation type, presenting a user interface for determininginformation in response to the choice of information type, recording asecond determination of information which is made via the userinterface, and automatically linking the second determination ofinformation to the first determination of information as a direct resultof the recording of the second determination of information.
 2. A methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein determinations of information that arelinked together constitute a virtual object of information collecting,the properties and contents of which are determined by thedeterminations of information being linked together.
 3. A method asclaimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the actof presenting, as a result of a finished determination of information,at least one indicator which identifies at least one recordeddetermination of information.
 4. A method as claimed in any one of thepreceding claims, further comprising the act of presenting, as a resultof a finished determination of information, at least one selectablefunction which is associated with at least one of the linkeddeterminations of information.
 5. A method as claimed in any one of thepreceding claims, wherein each information object comprises anindication of time.
 6. A method as claimed in any one of the precedingclaims, further comprising, in the cases when the determination ofinformation regarding an object of information corresponds to inputtingof new information, the acts of automatically generating an identity andsaving the information object with said identity in response to thefinished inputting of said new information.
 7. A method as claimed inany one of the preceding claims, wherein the act of automaticallylinking a second determination of information comprises the act ofsaving a link to the second determination of information in an object ofinformation collecting, in which object a link to the firstdetermination of information is already stored.
 8. A method as claimedin any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the act ofpresenting information regarding a specific information type, which actfurther comprises the acts of presenting all the objects of the specificinformation type, also the objects of the specific information type thatare linked to objects of another information type, and sorting, duringpresentation, the objects by an information type which at least is foundin a linked object of another information type.